Demon Slayer : The Silent Journey-Chapter 168: Hashira Meeting Continue

Author : So sorry!!! Meta Gacha Essence updated and I forgot to put the double Chapter. So today is double!!

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[3rd POV]

"We found a cure," Shinobu said.

The short pause that followed was full of brains processing the words. You could almost hear the gears shifting in everyone's head.

The Hashira's eyes narrowed in unison, their attention now fully on Shinobu.

"A cure?"

The word echoed in the room. It was a collective question that hung in the air and it was for Shinobu to answer. Even Kanae did not know the answer so she looked at her little sister curiously.

"It's exactly as it sounds like...." Shinobu's calm smile didn't waver. "A cure... to reverse demonization."

"What?!" A collective exclamation.

A ripple of shock spread through the Hashiras. Tengen's usually flamboyant expression was replaced by sheer disbelief. "You're telling me... we can undo what Muzan has done?"

"Yes."

"How...?" Giyu's voice was quiet, but the intensity behind his question was palpable.

Shinobu's expression softened as she spoke, her mind briefly flashing back to the sleepless nights, the countless trials, and the impossible obstacles they had overcome. "Lady Tamayo and I..." she began, " As you know, we have been working together for a while and we finally made a breakthrough with our research,"

A flicker of surprise crossed some of the Hashira's faces. They had heard of this in the last Hashira meeting but they never thought it would bore fruit this quickly.

"Tamayo?" Obanai's voice was barely above a whisper, his snake Kaburamaru hissing softly as if sensing the weight of the moment. "The demon... who betrayed Muzan?"

"Yes," Shinobu confirmed, her expression growing serious. "She's been researching the nature of Muzan's blood for centuries. With my help and the research material we got from the Failed Purge 'Muzan's cell', we've developed a serum. One that can break down Muzan's blood and reverse its effects. Basically...it can turn demons back into humans."

"You're saying..." Mitsuri's voice trembled slightly, her hands clutched at her chest as her eyes glistened with hope. "Demons... can be saved?"

The tension took a pause and everyone blinked before they turned to her in equal disbelief. Shinobu just said "Eh?" while looking around, wondering if she'd say something stupid again.

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She was just too pure for this world.

"Yes," Shinobu nodded gently. "...Or we can weaken them for easier kills,"

Everyone nodded at the latter part. That was the main intention all along. It was less to save demons but more to kill them easier.

Mitusir just blinked owlishly at that. The thought never even crossed her mind but she nodded, "...right"

"There are issues though...." Her voice was steady, but the weight of disappointment was undeniable. "It is extremely difficult to produce the serum and it takes time. There was also an issue with what happens when the demons turn back into humans with varying results, Most die a few days after they turn back into humans,"

"Do you know why that is?" Giyu asked thoughtfully, eager to learn more about the new discovery.

"We have a theory...a strong one but is not certain becuase the patients show varying results due to different components," Shinobu began, getting into doctor mode.

"Let me explain. The cure works by breaking down the demon cells and returning them to their normal human state. But this can be deadly, especially if they have been demons for a long time."

She allowed the others to digest the information before going on a long winding explanation of why it was deadly.

"When someone becomes a demon, their body undergoes extreme cellular changes. Their cells regenerate at an extraordinary rate to heal wounds, regrow limbs, and even sustain organs that should have failed. We all know this as demon regeneration, it is why they can only die by sunlight or nichirin blade. But this rapid regeneration comes at a steep cost." she said and continued.

"Human cells have a natural limit to how many times they can divide and regenerate. It's called the Hayflick Limit- once a cell divides around 40 to 60 times, it can no longer replicate. Demons push this limit far beyond what's natural and let their cells regenerate rapidly to heal, cells that were supposed to divide and regenerate over a lifetime often burned away in seconds. And when those cells ran out..." she trailed off.

"They have to find a way to replenish those cells," Kanae. Also being a medical expert blurt out and her eyes widen in absolute shock.

"They eat people," Shinobu confirmed. "I guess we know why they don't eat animals. They need human cells,"

The revelation shocked every Hashira in the room but Shinobu continued. Their main point of discussion was never how demon biology worked.

"So anyway, when the cure strips away their demonic cells, and they can't eat humans as a sort of recharge, what's left is a body that has surpassed its regenerative limit. Their human cells can no longer renew, no longer repair... they're biologically spent."

"Their bodies collapse. It's not immediate, but over the next few days, their organs begin to fail one by one. The heart weakens, the liver deteriorates, and the lungs grow too weak to function. Their body... simply shut down. In essence, they die of old age," Shinobu finished her explanation.

"It's why we haven't used it on Rengoku, the serum needs more fine-tuning,"

A long silence stretched inside the headquarters as they absorbed the information. Kanae in particular was intrigued, she cursed herself for not looking into such a thing sooner.

She should definitely catch up with her sister on this topic after they return.

"How long does it take to make a dose?" Muichiro asked, his young mind being one of the fastest to process the new information and he was already on to the next thing.

"Weeks... sometimes months for a single dose," Shinobu admitted, her tone laced with frustration. "It's not something we can mass-produce. Not yet."

A heavy silence followed her words.

"Which means..." Sanemi's voice was grim, his jaw clenched tightly, "we can't waste it on just any demon."

"Correct." Shinobu's eyes met his, a shared understanding passing between them. "It should be used on demons who are strong... those who might turn the tide in our favour if they can be restored. We must be strategic... selective."

"Upper Moons," Giyu murmured softly, his eyes narrowing as the realization sank in. "Or what's left of them..."

"Exactly." Shinobu nodded. "If we can turn even one of Muzan's strongest, back into a human, it could shift the balance of power."

"The serum also acts like poison to the demons, they will get weaker and weaker until they turn back into a human. It could be vital to take down powerful demons, even Muzan himself,"

A chilling resolve echoed in her words, one that made even Sanemi nod in grim approval.

"This changes everything..." Kanae's voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes distant as if processing the possibilities. "A cure... for demons..."

But Kanae was no naive woman, her eyes immediately narrowed on one possibility, "But if Muzan learns of this..."

"He won't." Shinobu's eyes hardened, her voice leaving no room for doubt. "Tamayo and I have ensured that the formula is kept secret. And even if something happens to us, we've written down the formula and made multiple measures to ensure the knowledge passed on,"

"Still we must be careful..." Kanae insisted, "Muzan's paranoia will only grow if he learns about this. It might cause him to flee the country entirely or he will stop at nothing to destroy us."

A heavy silence fell once more, but this time... it was different. The Hashiras were full of hope. What started off as a discussion about how bleak the situation was, by the end everyone had hope burning in their heart.

They can win. They must win.

They will win the war.

..

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Author : I spent quite a bit of time to make sense of the demon biology. I did a few research and I thought that made sense.

Also, have you noticed the change in my writing style? Honestly my other works have been affecting my writings lately, for better or worse.

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